Category: Australia Rugby

Veteran Wallabies halfback Nic White says it’s the “right time” for him to retire from Test rugby.

A former Lions player has passionately taken aim at the controversy surrounding Australia’s last-gasp defeat, saying Wallabies player Carlo Tizzano is the one who should have been red carded for diving.

Tom Curry’s recovery tackling was crucial while Will Skelton demonstrated what Australia missed in first Test

Tom Wright A performance of swaggering confidence featuring a try, dynamic running to set up attacks and a punishing 50:22. Set the tone for his side from the back. 8

The Wallabies have been denied an upset win over the British and Irish Lions in heartbreaking and controversial fashion after the visitors scored a last-gasp try to claim a thrilling 29-26 victory.

A gripping second test and series was won by the last play of the match in Melbourne

The officials for this match:

Referee: Andrea Piardi (Italy)

Assistant Referees: Nika Amashukeli (Georgia) & Ben O’Keeffe (New Zealand)

Television Match Official (TMO): Eric Gauzins (France

The Wallabies have made three changes to its starting side for the second Test against the British & Irish Lions at the MCG, with flanker Rob Valetini returning from injury.

Wallabies winger Harry Potter rubbished suggestions Wednesday that Australia have a “losing mentality”, but admitted they must be better in the second Test against the British and Irish Lions.

An inconsistent British and Irish Lions have survived a ferocious battle to stretch their unbeaten streak to seven with a nervy 24-19 takedown of an aggressive First Nations and Pasifika XV.

Wallabies centre Len Ikitau says it’s up to him to provide the platform for prized recruit Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to terrorise the British and Irish Lions at the MCG on Saturday night.

It may open the Lions to accusations of parochialism, but there is a compelling case for staying in Europe

It may be too early to start asking existential questions about the British & Irish Lions but, sitting in Melbourne’s Southbank, slap bang in the middle of Aussie rules territory, where union makes barely a ripple, you begin to wonder. The sea of red will roll in at the weekend but, for now, Melbourne is pretty much oblivious. “Some kind of carnival on I think,” was one taxi driver’s assessment.

None of this is to criticise Australia. It is a wonderful country, sports mad and as the loosehead prop James Slipper says of the locals: “They’re still Australian, so they’ll be there. I know they’ll be there. It’s one thing about this country, regardless of the sport, they’ll get behind the national colours.”

Australian veteran James Slipper has hit back at suggestions the Wallabies had a “losing mentality” during last week’s British & Irish Lions series opener loss in Brisbane.

• Veteran calls for history to repeat after being part of fightback in 2013

• Australia boosted by return of Rob Valetini and Will Skelton from injury

Steely Wallabies veteran James Slipper is urging his battered troops to block out the “noise” as they look to stop the Lions juggernaut in their do-or-die second Test in Melbourne.

The series is on the line at the MCG on Saturday night with Slipper offering a unique perspective in the current Australian line-up as the only player to have taken part in two series.

The British media has ripped into the “toothless” and “un-Australian” Wallabies following Saturday’s loss to the Lions in the series opener in Brisbane.

Australia head coach Joe Schmidt said he was proud of the fight his side showed against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday, but called on them to improve for the second Test next week.